Harvard, MIT, QuEra Achieve Historic 99.5% Fidelity in Quantum Computing Breakthrough.

Researchers from Harvard University, MIT, and QuEra Computing have achieved a significant milestone in quantum computing. They demonstrated two-qubit entangling gates with a record 99.5% accuracy on 60 neutral atom qubits. This surpasses the quantum error-correcting threshold, a crucial step towards commercial quantum computing applications. The team used innovative techniques such as optimal control, atomic dark states, and enhanced Rydberg excitation and atom cooling. Alex Keesling, CEO of QuEra, highlighted this as a critical step towards large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers. QuEra, based in Boston, is a leader in commercializing quantum computers using neutral atoms.

“We are thrilled to announce this groundbreaking achievement in collaboration with Harvard and MIT. Achieving a 99.5% fidelity rate on 60 neutral atom qubits is not just a technical milestone; it’s a critical step in our march towards large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers,”

Alex Keesling, CEO of QuEra.

Quantum Computing Breakthrough: 99.5% Two-Qubit Gate Fidelity Achieved

A team of researchers from Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and QuEra Computing, a quantum computing company, have achieved a significant milestone in quantum computing. They have successfully demonstrated two-qubit entangling gates with an unprecedented 99.5% fidelity on 60 neutral atom qubits in parallel. This achievement results from extensive testing conducted by the respective institutions and was first reported in ArXiv and later Nature.

A crucial aspect of effective quantum information processing is performing entangling quantum operations with low error rates in a scalable manner. Neutral atom arrays have recently emerged as a promising platform for quantum computing, offering coherent control over hundreds of qubits and any-to-any gate connectivity in a flexible, dynamically reconfigurable architecture. Fidelities above 99% (or error rates below 1%) are required to surpass quantum error-correcting thresholds. Previously, the highest fidelity achieved within this configuration was 97.5%. This breakthrough lays the foundation for large-scale implementation of quantum algorithms, error-corrected circuits, and digital simulations.

Innovative Techniques in Quantum Computing

The breakthrough in fidelity is attributed to an innovative approach to neutral atom-based quantum computing, which incorporates a range of cutting-edge techniques. These include optimal control, which ensures precision and efficiency in entangling operations, and the use of atomic dark states to reduce scattering and error rates.

Enhancements in Rydberg excitation and atom cooling techniques have also played a crucial role in improving the accuracy of quantum operations. These advancements have been instrumental in achieving the remarkable 99.5% fidelity, a critical step towards the development of large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers.

The Impact of High Fidelity on Quantum Computing

The achievement of a 99.5% fidelity rate on 60 neutral atom qubits is not just a technical milestone; it’s a significant step towards large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers. This level of fidelity surpasses the critical thresholds needed for quantum error correction, bringing us one step closer to realizing the full potential of quantum computing in tackling real-world challenges.

QuEra Computing is a company that specializes in commercializing quantum computers using neutral atoms—a highly promising quantum modality. Based in Boston and built on pioneering research from Harvard University and MIT, QuEra operates the world’s largest publicly accessible quantum computer, available over a major public cloud and for on-premises delivery. QuEra is developing large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers to tackle classically intractable problems.

“This level of fidelity surpasses the critical thresholds needed for quantum error correction, bringing us one step closer to realizing the full potential of quantum computing in tackling real-world challenges. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation that drives QuEra and our esteemed partners.”

Alex Keesling, CEO of QuEra.

Quick Summary

Researchers from Harvard University, MIT and QuEra have achieved a significant milestone in quantum computing by demonstrating two-qubit entangling gates with a record 99.5% fidelity on 60 neutral atom qubits. This breakthrough, surpassing quantum error-correcting thresholds, paves the way for large-scale implementation of quantum algorithms and digital simulations.

  • Researchers from Harvard University, MIT and QuEra Computing have achieved a significant milestone in quantum computing, demonstrating two-qubit entangling gates with a 99.5% fidelity on 60 neutral atom qubits.
  • This achievement surpasses the quantum error-correcting thresholds, a critical step towards the practical application of quantum computing.
  • The breakthrough was achieved through a series of tests conducted by the Department of Physics and John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard, QuEra, and MIT’s Department of Physics and Research Laboratory of Electronics.
  • The team used innovative techniques such as optimal control, atomic dark states, and enhanced Rydberg excitation and atom cooling to achieve this high fidelity.
  • This achievement is a significant step towards the large-scale implementation of quantum algorithms, error-corrected circuits, and digital simulations.
  • Alex Keesling, CEO of QuEra, highlighted the importance of this achievement in the progress towards large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers.
  • QuEra Computing, based in Boston, is a leading company in the commercialisation of quantum computers using neutral atoms.
Rusty Flint

Rusty Flint

Rusty is a science nerd. He's been into science all his life, but spent his formative years doing less academic things. Now he turns his attention to write about his passion, the quantum realm. He loves all things Physics especially. Rusty likes the more esoteric side of Quantum Computing and the Quantum world. Everything from Quantum Entanglement to Quantum Physics. Rusty thinks that we are in the 1950s quantum equivalent of the classical computing world. While other quantum journalists focus on IBM's latest chip or which startup just raised $50 million, Rusty's over here writing 3,000-word deep dives on whether quantum entanglement might explain why you sometimes think about someone right before they text you. (Spoiler: it doesn't, but the exploration is fascinating.

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